Seoul National University Hospital, one of the public agencies, reached a tentative agreement not to introduce the performance-based wage system until next year after a deal reached between the management and union.

This is the first case in the public agencies to have blocked the introduction of the performance-based wage system through the agreement between the employers and workers. This is the reason why, critics say, the government has to change the guidelines on the introduction of the performance-based wage system or leave the introduction of the new wage system at the voluntary negotiation of the management and union to resolve the strikes.

The Korean Railway Workers Union(KRWU) has been staging a walkout for 20 days as of October 16 by demanding the halt of the introduction of the performance-based wage system. After the board of directors' meeting of the Korea Railroad Corporation(Korail) unilaterally decided the introduction of the performance-based wage system in May this year, the entanglements of the industrial relations at the Korail became even tighter.

The Public & Social Service and Transport Workers Union(PTWU) explained that unlike 'public corporations' and 'semi-government agencies' which decided the introduction of the performance-based wage system without the bilateral agreement were under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the Seoul National University Hospital categorized as one of 'other public agencies' did not enforce a unilateral decision for the new wage system. Such a given condition makes a little difference for the negotiations between the management and union.

Public agencies are categorized as 'public corporations', 'semi-government agencies' and 'other public agencies'. The government set the time guideline that public corporations shall complete the introduction of the performance-based wage system by the end of June this year and 'semi-government agencies' by the end of December this year. If not, the government pressurized the public agencies with the imposition of various penalties.

Union leader Park Kyong-deuk of The Seoul National University Hospital union local, an affiliate to The Medical Solidarity Division of the PTWU told the press that even though the government pushed the public agencies for the introduction of the performance-based wage system, but it did not impose the implementation guidelines upon the national university hospitals as much enforced in 'public corporations' and 'semi-government agencies' with the possible penalties. That made a room for the management and union to voluntarily reach a deal through the negotiations.

5 Seoul City invested corporations categorized as 'local public corporations' have also decided the negotiation between the management and union to work for the feasibility of the performance-based wage system. According to the agreement, unions of Seoul Metro and Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit suspended the 4-day walkouts and returned to work.

The suspension of all-out strike actions by the unions of the National Health Insurance Service, National Pension Service, Busan Subway(Humetro) and the resumption of work did not mean that the pending issues were resolved. Workers can go on a strike again depending on the outcome of the negotiations.

An official of the PTWU said that it reconfirmed the policy decision in a recent meeting for the representatives of the striking unions that the walkout will not be suspended without the resolution of the performance-based wage system. He continued that If the government does not come up with (the changes), the strikes will be inevitably prolonged.

reported by Yoon Ja-eun
edited in English by Kim Sung-jin